'''Silvermoon City''' (aka '''Silvermoon''') is the capital of the [[blood elves]], located in the northeastern part of the [[Eversong Woods]] within the kingdom of [[Quel'Thalas]], at the northernmost tip of the [[Eastern Kingdoms]]. The breathtaking capital city of the blood elves may rival the [[dwarf|dwarven]] capital of [[Ironforge]] as the world's oldest, still standing, capital. Recently rebuilt from the devastating blow dealt by the evil Prince [[Arthas Menethil|Arthas]], the city houses the largest population of blood elves left on Azeroth.

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'''Silvermoon City''' is the capital of the [[blood elves]], located in the northeastern part of the [[Eversong Woods]] within the kingdom of [[Quel'Thalas]], at the northernmost tip of the [[Eastern Kingdoms]]. The breathtaking capital city of the blood elves may rival the [[dwarf|dwarven]] capital of [[Ironforge]] as the world's oldest, still standing, capital.

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Silvermoontoday is only the easternhalfof the original city; the western half was almost completely destroyed by the Scourgeduring the [[ThirdWar]]. [[Falconwing Square]], the secondblood elf town, is the onlypart of westernSilvermoonremaininginblood elf control. The[[DeadScar]](thepathtakenby[[ArthasMenethil]]andhisundeadarmyonthequesttoresurrect[[Kel'Thuzad]], whichcarvesthroughall of EversongWoods)separates the rebuiltSilvermoonfromtheruinsof the western half. Interestingly,the[[RuinsofSilvermoon]]houseno [[undead]], instead they contain [[Wretched]] and malfunctioning[[ArcaneGuardian]]s.Asitstands,what remains of SilvermoonCityis still bigger than other Hordecities.

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Rebuiltfrom the devastatingblowdealt by the evilPrince [[ArthasMenethil|Arthas]], the cityhouses the largestpopulation of bloodelvesleftonAzeroth. Silvermoonpresentsaveryproudandwondrousthemetoanywhoenter.Thecityisabeaconofculture, withbeautifularchitectureand statues of elvenheritage,and the flagofQuel'Thalasispresentall over the city. TheBloodElvesareaproudpeople, and thuscovertheircityintheircolours of red,green,andgold.

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Silvermoon today is only the eastern half of the original city; the western half was almost completely destroyed by the Scourge during the [[Third War]]. [[Falconwing Square]], the second blood elf town, is the only part of western Silvermoon remaining in blood elf control. The [[Dead Scar]] (the path taken by [[Arthas Menethil]] and his undead army on the quest to resurrect [[Kel'Thuzad]], which carves through all of Eversong Woods) separates the rebuilt Silvermoon from the ruins of the western half.

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Interestingly, the [[Ruins of Silvermoon]] house no [[undead]], instead they contain [[Wretched]] and malfunctioning [[Arcane Guardian]]s. As it stands, what remains of Silvermoon City is still bigger than other Horde cities.

== History ==

== History ==

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===Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall===

===Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall===

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The blood elves are trapped in a struggle with their hunger for magic, caught between mastering this desire or letting it master them, and the duality of Silvermoon reflects their inner struggle. One side ruined, one side restored to its former glory; magnificent on the outside, lingering darkness on the inside. Small details like floating flowerpots and the omnipresent glowing green crystals further underline the idea that the rulers of this city are completely drunk on magic. However, the truly interesting insights reveal themselves when players look closer at what is going on in Silvermoon City. Beyond the luscious avenues, behind the rich billowing curtains, lie dark and gloomy interiors, and those who explore the other side of Silvermoon City may find that the city's beautiful facade serves only to hide the true, more-sinister side of the city.

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The blood elves are trapped in a struggle with their hunger for magic, caught between mastering this desire or letting it master them, and the duality of Silvermoon reflects their inner struggle. One side ruined, one side restored to its former glory; magnificent on the outside, lingering darkness on the inside. Small details like floating flowerpots and the omnipresent glowing green crystals further underline the idea that the rulers of this city are completely drunk on magic.

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However, the truly interesting insights reveal themselves when players look closer at what is going on in Silvermoon City. Beyond the luscious avenues, behind the rich billowing curtains, lie dark and gloomy interiors, and those who explore the other side of Silvermoon City may find that the city's beautiful facade serves only to hide the true, more-sinister side of the city.

==Geography==

==Geography==

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[[File:SunfuryCourt3.jpg|thumb|Court of the Sun]]

[[File:SunfuryCourt3.jpg|thumb|Court of the Sun]]

{{main|Silvermoon City NPCs}}

{{main|Silvermoon City NPCs}}

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[[Lor'themar Theron]] is the Regent Lord of Quel'Thalas in the absence of Prince [[Kael'thas]] and current leader of the blood elves on Azeroth. Since patch 2.4, with Kael'thas betrayal becoming public, he is no longer under Kael'thas command...nor anyone's command, being a "temporary" leader for all blood elves.

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[[Lor'themar Theron]] is the Regent Lord of Quel'Thalas in the absence of Prince [[Kael'thas]] and current leader of the blood elves on Azeroth. Since patch 2.4, with Kael'thas betrayal becoming public, he is no longer under Kael'thas command… nor anyone's command, being a "temporary" leader for all blood elves.

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[[Halduron Brightwing]] is Silvermoon's new Ranger-General, and is the blood elves' military commander on Azeroth. [[Grand Magister Rommath]] is the leader of all blood elf magi on Azeroth, and is a fiercely loyal servant to Kael'thas.

[[Halduron Brightwing]] is Silvermoon's new Ranger-General, and is the blood elves' military commander on Azeroth. [[Grand Magister Rommath]] is the leader of all blood elf magi on Azeroth, and is a fiercely loyal servant to Kael'thas.

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[[M'uru]] is the [[Naaru]] that the blood elves captured and was the source of the blood knight's power in the Light. He could previously be found beneath the paladin trainers area, where it was watched over by [[Magister Astalor Bloodsworn]], who is behind the idea, and [[Lady Liadrin]], who volunteered to be the first ever blood knight. Since [[2.4]], M'uru has been kidnapped and taken to the Sunwell Plateau where he serves as a 25-man raid boss, and Liadrin is no longer present, instead appearing in a periodic dialogue scene that occurs in Shattrath with [[A'dal]].

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[[M'uru]] is the [[Naaru]] that the blood elves captured and was the source of the blood knight's power in the Light. He could previously be found beneath the paladin trainers area, where it was watched over by [[Magister Astalor Bloodsworn]], who is behind the idea, and [[Lady Liadrin]], who volunteered to be the first ever blood knight.

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Since [[2.4]], M'uru has been kidnapped and taken to the Sunwell Plateau where he serves as a 25-man raid boss, and Liadrin is no longer present, instead appearing in a periodic dialogue scene that occurs in Shattrath with [[A'dal]].

Another quite obvious and yet unknown character is [[Champion Vranesh]]. Originally seen patrolling the city streets atop an epic [[Charger]] mount, though the NPC was only level 20, he has recently been updated to level 60. His favorite pastime is to critique the city guards. Who he is and how exactly he obtained his title is unknown.

Another quite obvious and yet unknown character is [[Champion Vranesh]]. Originally seen patrolling the city streets atop an epic [[Charger]] mount, though the NPC was only level 20, he has recently been updated to level 60. His favorite pastime is to critique the city guards. Who he is and how exactly he obtained his title is unknown.

Rebuilt from the devastating blow dealt by the evil Prince Arthas, the city houses the largest population of blood elves left on Azeroth. Silvermoon presents a very proud and wondrous theme to any who enter. The city is a beacon of culture, with beautiful architecture and statues of elven heritage, and the flag of Quel'Thalas is present all over the city. The Blood Elves are a proud people, and thus cover their city in their colours of red, green, and gold.

Silvermoon today is only the eastern half of the original city; the western half was almost completely destroyed by the Scourge during the Third War. Falconwing Square, the second blood elf town, is the only part of western Silvermoon remaining in blood elf control. The Dead Scar (the path taken by Arthas Menethil and his undead army on the quest to resurrect Kel'Thuzad, which carves through all of Eversong Woods) separates the rebuilt Silvermoon from the ruins of the western half.

Contents

The city of Silvermoon was founded by the high elves to be their capital after their arrival in Lordaeron thousands of years ago. The city was constructed out of white stone and living plants in the style of the ancient kaldorei empire and interwoven with the natural topography of the landscape. The city contained the famous Academies of Silvermoon as a center for the learning of Arcane Magic and Sunstrider Spire, a majestic palace home to the Royal family of the high elves. The Convocation of Silvermoon (also known as "The Council of Silvermoon"), the ruling body of the high elves was also based here. Across a stretch of ocean to the north is the island that contains the Sunwell.

Silvermoon City stood for millennia. During the Second War the city itself was left relatively unscathed due to the efforts of elven magi who used the powers of the Sunwell to create a magical barrier over the city making it impervious to the Horde's dragon fire. However, in the Third War the death knightArthas led the Scourge into the city, attacking it on his quest to reach the Sunwell. The High Elven King and the Convocation were slain and the majority of the population killed. Scourge forces held the city for a time, but abandoned it after the depletion of its resources.

Though the city was attacked by the Scourge, the undead left the buildings mainly intact. For a time the city was a ghost town empty except for dead plants, the occasional body sprawled across the cobblestones and mournful elven spirits. The only visitors to the city were treasure hunters in search of any valuable artifacts that the elves left behind before they deserted the city, but the ghosts of Silvermoon's past inhabitants made stealing difficult.

Silvermoon Gates.

In World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade Silvermoon has become the capital of the blood elves. Following the events of The Sunwell Trilogy, Silvermoon was retaken by the blood elves with the aid of new magics taught to them by Grand Magister Rommath returned from Outland with the teachings of Prince Kael'thas, and the secret protection of Anveena, avatar of the Sunwell. With the new powers the blood elves reconstructed the eastern half of the city restoring it to much of its former glory, the western half, however, still lies in ruins in the hands of the Wretched. What happened to the ghosts of the high elves that haunted the ancient halls is not yet known.

A great deal of arcane energy has been used. Chained crystals, full to the top with harnessed magic, now dot the city and power up all the various magical contrivance, including many floating spires and castles. Since the blood elves are cut off from the rest of civilization by the dangerous Plaguelands, an Orb of Translocation has been made connecting Silvermoon to Undercity.

Magically-automated guardians constantly remind everyone in the city of the blood elves' leader and savior, Prince Kael'thas, by reciting lines of carefully-worded propaganda. This helps prevent the blood elven denizens of the city from forgetting to whom they owe their absolute loyalty. However in 2.4 the Arcane Guardians have been changed to reflect Kael'thas' betrayal and give propaganda referring to Lor'themar Theron as the savior of the blood elves instead. Additionally, Silvermoon City Guardians critiqued by Champion Vranesh no longer praise Kael'thas as the "Sun King".

The blood elves are trapped in a struggle with their hunger for magic, caught between mastering this desire or letting it master them, and the duality of Silvermoon reflects their inner struggle. One side ruined, one side restored to its former glory; magnificent on the outside, lingering darkness on the inside. Small details like floating flowerpots and the omnipresent glowing green crystals further underline the idea that the rulers of this city are completely drunk on magic.

However, the truly interesting insights reveal themselves when players look closer at what is going on in Silvermoon City. Beyond the luscious avenues, behind the rich billowing curtains, lie dark and gloomy interiors, and those who explore the other side of Silvermoon City may find that the city's beautiful facade serves only to hide the true, more-sinister side of the city.

Lor'themar Theron is the Regent Lord of Quel'Thalas in the absence of Prince Kael'thas and current leader of the blood elves on Azeroth. Since patch 2.4, with Kael'thas betrayal becoming public, he is no longer under Kael'thas command… nor anyone's command, being a "temporary" leader for all blood elves.

Halduron Brightwing is Silvermoon's new Ranger-General, and is the blood elves' military commander on Azeroth. Grand Magister Rommath is the leader of all blood elf magi on Azeroth, and is a fiercely loyal servant to Kael'thas.

M'uru is the Naaru that the blood elves captured and was the source of the blood knight's power in the Light. He could previously be found beneath the paladin trainers area, where it was watched over by Magister Astalor Bloodsworn, who is behind the idea, and Lady Liadrin, who volunteered to be the first ever blood knight.

Since 2.4, M'uru has been kidnapped and taken to the Sunwell Plateau where he serves as a 25-man raid boss, and Liadrin is no longer present, instead appearing in a periodic dialogue scene that occurs in Shattrath with A'dal.

Another quite obvious and yet unknown character is Champion Vranesh. Originally seen patrolling the city streets atop an epic Charger mount, though the NPC was only level 20, he has recently been updated to level 60. His favorite pastime is to critique the city guards. Who he is and how exactly he obtained his title is unknown.

Sorim Lightsong is the quest giver for the repeatable runecloth quest that must be completed by non-blood elf Horde players in order to obtain the possibility of riding hawkstriders, the mount of the blood elf race. He actually makes a joke about this when spoken to, saying "You're merely after a Hawkstrider, aren't you?"

As a tribute to the first blood elf to hit level 67 during the beta, the paladin trainer Bachi was named after the player Bachi.

The city's guards, "Silvermoon City Guardians" use a distinctly different model than other male blood elves, made to resemble the Spellbreakers of old Quel'Thalas with tall shields and large glaives. This model is based on an older blood elf player model from The Burning Crusade's pre-alpha builds, which were in use at the time of the expansion's announcement at Blizzcon.

Arguably the largest city on Azeroth, however it is still argued even more that Stormwind and Darnassus surpass it (especially after Patch 3.0.2, with the opening of Stormwind Harbor).

It is amusing to note that the female blood elf /silly emote, "You mean, I'm STUCK with this hair color?!" seems to be, in principle at least, quite accurate; as there is no barber shop in Silvermoon City, those blood elves wishing to change their character models must visit another city to do so.